A new Volkswagen has finally come out of its shell. It is poised to sweep the roads, and make its competition eat the dust. The German maker of the highly-popular Beetle and American tuning giant Neuspeed have yet again, forged hands to come up with perhaps the ultimate sports compact hatchback in the business – the 2007 Volkswagen Thunder Bunny II.
Click here for the Rabbit’s story. Read how an auto junkie perceives how the Bunny would perform.
The Volkswagen Group proudly said that they have delivered more vehicles, generated higher sales revenue and increased earnings substantially in the first quarter of 2007.
The Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand also increased its operating profit by €435 million to €386 million in the first quarter, which attributes primarily to the successful restructuring measures implemented last year.
“We made a good start to 2007 and further improved our financial positionâ€, said Hans Dieter Pötsch, Volkswagen AG’s CFO, commenting on the publication of the quarterly figures. “Our new product initiative was successful. All Group brands increased their sales in the first quarter.†The Volkswagen Group delivered 1.5 million vehicles worldwide, an increase of 7.9 percent. Sales revenue grew by 5.1 % to €26.6 billion. “All brands contributed to this success.†At €1.1 billion, the Volkswagen Group’s operating profit was up significantly year-on-year. Profit after tax more than doubled to €740 million.
Pötsch said that all Group brands improved their operating profit. Like Audi’s operating profit increased by €56 million year-on-year. While, Lamborghini recorded positive earnings growth. The Škoda brand was again successful with a rising profit from €29 million to €172 million. SEAT posted an operating loss of €11 million, a substantial reduction in the previous year’s first-quarter loss.The Bentley brand increased its operating profit by €33 million to €38 million due to volume growth.
CFO Pötsch reiterated expectations for the current year, saying that the Volkswagen Group will continue the new model rollout, increase productivity and improve current processes. They also expect to slightly increase worldwide deliveries in 2007 and exceed 2006 sales revenue. For 2008, the Board of Management is confident in achieving a consolidated profit before tax of at least €5.1 billion.
Volkswagen is introducing the new Passat BlueMotion to the market – the most economical car in the world in the 4.8 meter class. This Volkswagen, powered by a 77 kW / 105 PS TDI engine, breaks through the fuel consumption barrier of 5.5 liters for its class, as a sedan and Variant. Compared to the base model, the Passat BlueMotion saves 0.6 liters per 100 kilometers. Until now, such fuel economy values were exclusively attainable by much smaller vehicles.
Paired with its low fuel consumption values are reductions in carbon dioxide emissions by 10% of 15 g/km. A standard particulate filter is also integrated in the emission control system.
To notice any difference between a BlueMotion Passat and a regular one, you have to really look closely. The changes on the Passat happen on the underside, where various spoilers and skirts have been added to give a 12% improvement in slipperiness. It’s also been lowered by 15mm at the front and 8mm at the rear.
The prospects are good that the new Passat BlueMotion will be one of the most sought after models within the model series. Due to the fact that, not only does it protects the environment, it also protects the car owner’s budget. A single fill of its 70 liter fuel tanks lets the Passat BlueMotion reach theoretical operating ranges of 1,370 and 1,350 kilometers. The new BlueMotion will begin deliveries in June.
The American Le Mans Series introduced a new program for the 2007 racing season which they have aptly labled “Vitesse”. Vitesse is a French word meaning “the speed at which something happens…” and the goal of the Vitesse program is to …
Every Audi TT is noted for its clear lines, unmistakable dynamism and the driving characteristics of a sports car. Audi now presents the TT in its most purist form: the clubsport quattro study. The Audi TT clubsport quattro study reduces …
Volkswagen of America has launched its newest addition to their 2007 line up, the 2007 Eos Base, with a window price starting at $28,110. Eos has been dubbed as the world’s first hardtop convertible with a sunroof. With its hardtop convertible built by Webasto, rest assured that the wear and tear issues won’t be a problem anymore. It also features a sunroof, an interestingly new add-on to hardtop convertibles.
Its engine boasts of a 2.0L turbocharged, 4 cylinders with 16 valves and 500hp and drivers could also rev it up to 5100. It has a 6 speed manual transmission and a gallon of gasoline could take you 23 miles in the city and 32 miles highway. Environmentalist drivers would be happy to know that Eos got a 67 green rating, 4 points higher than other compact cars.
Still, other standard features apply such as 8 speakers, AM/FM radio, and a CD player. Ipod enthusiasts will be more than anticipated as Eos incorporated the fashion there is in the MP3 world. Drivers have the option to buy an iPod adapter for their Eos.
Eos flashes a luxurious and sporty style fitting both the elite and adventurous people. Performance plus style continue to live on.
It’s almost a month since I’ve posted here. I’ve taken the opportunity to have some much-needed break from writing.
Anyway, watch out for more Volkswagen news and features as the brand have been bullish in the marlet lately.
Til next post.
You are legally required to have car insurance, but you are not required to pay astronomical prices for it. If you are looking for some ways in which you can save on then look no further.
When you first took out your car insurance policy you might have decided to go for low deductibles. That might have seemed like a good idea to you at the time, but you might not have known that by choosing higher deductibles you can actually save money on your car insurance premiums. Change your deductible to the highest you can possibly afford and your insurance premiums will go down.
Make sure that you keep an amount of money saved that is equal to or higher than your deductible so that you will be assured the money is available if you ever need it. If you own an older car that isn’t worth very much then you can save money by dropping your collision and comprehensive coverages.
Many insurance companies offer discounts for various things. Low mileage discounts are one example. If you put fewer than a specific amount of mileage you your car each year then your insurance company may offer you a discount, as long as you can prove the amount of mileage put on the car each year. You can also usually get discounts for having safety features such as anti-lock brakes, airbags, and alarms.
Some other discounts that may be available to you include having more than one car insured with the same insurance company, having more than one type of policy with the same insurance company (such as your car and your home), not having been in an accident for the past three years, not having gotten any tickets, being 50 or more years of age, and taking driver training and/or driver safety classes.
What could make a bad car deal worse? A wreck that leaves you owing thousands on a car you don’t own anymore.
If you did everything wrong while acquiring your last vehicle, you may still be able to do at least one thing right. And that’s buying so-called “gap insurance.”
Gap insurance kicks in when the amount your insurer would pay for your totaled or stolen car falls short of what you still owe on the loan or lease.
Chances are good you need gap insurance if:
You purchased a new car and didn’t have a down payment of at least 20%.
You’re leasing a car.
You’re financing for more than four years.
You rolled debt from your last car into your current auto loan.
I outlined why these car-buying practices are usually bad ideas in “The real reason you’re broke.” They are, unfortunately, fairly common scenarios that typically leave people “upside down,” or owing more on their cars than the vehicles are worth.
Yet gap insurance remains a relatively unknown product, said Patrick Olsen, managing editor of Cars.com.
“As soon as you drive off the lot, depreciation kicks in,” Olsen said. “I don’t think people are aware of the danger they could be in.”
If you don’t make a 20% down payment, for example, you’ll be upside-down on the car from the minute you drive off the lot, and you’ll typically stay that way for two to three years, depending on the length of your loan. If you get in an accident or the car is stolen during that time, you may be in trouble.
Video: Should you buy or lease?
“The insurance company will pay you what the vehicle is (currently) worth, and that’s not necessary the same as what you owe,” said Mike Meredith, financial editor for MSN Autos. “It could be a lot less.”
You could be pushed over the edge
Here’s an example. You buy or lease a car for around $25,000. Several months down the road, it’s totaled, but your insurance check covers only the car’s current value, which is about $20,000. Not only do you have to find new wheels, but you’re on the hook to the finance or lease company for that $5,000 gap. It’s not uncommon for cars to lose two-thirds of their value in just three years. (See MSN Autos’ list of vehicles that hold their value best.)
If you rolled debt from your old loan into your new one, that amount you owe could be even larger. One out of four vehicles that are financed includes debt rolled over from a previous vehicle, according to vehicle research site Edmunds.com, and the average amount of so-called “negative equity” is more than $4,000.
If your finances are already shaky, the gap between what you owe and what you’re paid could be enough to push you right over the edge.
“It could be the difference between staying afloat and having to declare bankruptcy,” said Phil Reed, consumer advice editor for Edmunds.com and co-author of the book “Strategies for Smart Car Buyers.” At a minimum, you could be saddled with expensive and unwelcome debt.
If you’re not sure where you stand, you can use the Kelley Blue Book tool on MSN Autos to see how much your car is really worth and compare that to what you owe. Insurers typically pay an amount somewhere between the car’s trade-in value and what you’d get in a private sale.
Not to worry
Now, there are two scenarios where underwater drivers don’t have to worry about gap insurance:
If it’s already included in your lease. In some states, including New York, leases by law must include gap coverage, Olsen said.
If your auto policy is written to cover the gap. This isn’t the norm, but some auto policies promise to pay off a loan regardless of what the car’s worth. You can try reading your policy to see if you’re covered for any gaps, or simply call your insurer and ask.
If you don’t have coverage already, the solution fortunately doesn’t have to be that expensive. A premium of a few hundred dollars should cover you for the life of the loan or lease. You typically can buy the coverage:
From the dealershipor auto finance company. It’s probably the most expensive choice, especially if you roll the cost into your monthly note. You’ll be paying interest on it, plus paying for coverage even after you’re no longer upside-down on your loan.
From your current auto insurer. It’s usually the best choice, if your insurer offers the coverage. Farmers Insurance, for example, offers gap coverage at a flat rate of $25 every six months to Washington drivers. You can drop it once you’re sure you’re in the black.
From another insurance carrier. You can look for gap insurance providers; make sure they have top marks from one of the rating services such as A.M. Best, Standard & Poor’s or TheStreet.com Ratings (formerly Weiss Ratings).
The best time to shop for coverage is before you even set foot on the dealer’s lot, Reed said. He advises calling your insurer to get a quote for coverage as soon as you decide what car you’re going to buy. But all isn’t lost if you fail to plan that far ahead.
“It’ll be cheaper through your agent than through a dealership,” Reed said, “but you can always buy it (at the dealership) and cancel it later” once you’ve got coverage with your insurer.
Video: Should you buy or lease?
If you’re a savvy enough negotiator, you may be able to get the dealership to lower its premium, Meredith said, particularly if you already know what coverage would cost through your insurer.Some dealerships and insurers require you to get the coverage when you buy the car, but others let you add it later. If you don’t have gap coverage and need it, it’s worth the effort to search for a company that will sell it to you.
Like most insurance, it’s something you may never need, Meredith said, but “it’s a really good thing to have if you need it.
Tag: auto insurance, car insurance, aa, aarp, admiral, american, antique car, arizona, home insurance, gap, agency
The Wolfsburg edition of the Volkswagen Passat is now available at dealers, Volkswagen of America announced March 20.
VW would be selling only 6000 of the special edition Passat.
The Passat features a 2.0L, 200 hp turbo-charged engine with a standard six-speed automatic Tiptronic transmission.
The wolfsburg edition hosts a plethora of safety features, which includes six standard airbags, plus an optional two rear side airbags. It also has a four-wheel Antilock Braking System (ABS) with four-wheel disc brakes.
Luxury amenities include a 17-inch alloy wheels, a four-spoke leather wrapped multi-function steering wheel, letaher wrapped gearshift knob and boot, 12-way full power adjustable driver’s seat, six-disc in dash CD changer with MP3 capability, heated front seats, power sunroof, fog lights, heated windshiled washer nozzles and Sirius satellite radio.
200,000 visitors and 50,000 vehicles anticipated Brand meet for Audi and VW fans The 26th Worthersee Tour from 16 to 20 May 2007 will celebrate two firsts this year. AUDI AG will be represented for the first time as a manufacturer at the …
The automotive world is seeing some dramatic changes thanks to the opening up of markets in China and India and the development of plants producing models that can retail for much less than ten thousand dollars in North America. The lower end of the auto market is booming and cheaper priced cars will be soon heading to America to swell the ranks of vehicles selling for bottom dollar. Volkswagen will be doing its part to compete against all that the world has to offer, but not with models currently being built by the German automaker. However, Skoda, a car company owned by the Volkswagen Group is likely to start selling some of their cars in the U.S. once competition heats up. Read on and we’ll take a look at how Skoda may transform the basic Volkswagen offering for the lucrative, but competitive American market.
Ask the average American consumer if they ever heard of Skoda and more than ninety percent are likely to give you a “no†answer. Conversely, if you asked these same consumers if they ever heard of Volkswagen, the name recognition would be virtually one hundred percent. Such is the popularity of the car company that brought the Beetle and Rabbit to the American market.
Skoda is much less known globally, although they have been producing vehicles for more than one century. Indeed, the once Czech government run car company had a small following, mostly in the communist states of eastern Europe. During the early 1990s, the Czech government decided to sell its interest in Skoda and Volkswagen became the happy owner. Today, Skoda cars are made in five countries and sold in 21. New plants in Russia and China are being developed to join plants already operating in eastern Europe and India.
So, why would VW turn to Skoda in order to remain competitive in North America? For two reasons:
Even if VW sends their lowest price car to the American market, the Polo, it will still be priced at around $12,000 which will be several thousand dollars more expensive than the cars to be imported from Chinese automakers.
Already the Skoda is one of the best priced brands in the world. Instead of pouring millions of dollars into a new VW model and tapping a factory that produces more expensive vehicles, a base Skoda model will likely anchor the Volkswagen line up within the next five years. Perhaps the Roomster, Skoda’s tiny four passenger automobile will be the car that helps VW stay strong in the US. Powered by a tiny 3 cylinder 1.2L engine, the Roomster is uniquely designed and easier to tell apart from other cars in its class and the Roomster is likely to be popular in China once production begins late next year.
And what is the biggest advantage of the Skoda Roomster? It will retail for less than ten thousand dollars once imported versions of this car arrive from Chinese factories to American soil. Now for the remaining dilemma: will the car be rebadged as a VW or will America finally learn what Skoda is all about? Stay tuned!